Proverbs 16
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from
the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his
own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.
3 Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established.
4 The LORD has made everything for
its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an
abomination to the LORD;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity
is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps
away from evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to
the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace
with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
10 A divine decision is in the lips of
the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales belong to
the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit
wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of
death,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king's face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring
rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom
than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen
above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart
from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with
the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word
will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart will be called
understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases
persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life
to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to
a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker's appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise
perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil
to pass.
31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than
the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who
captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 17
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a
son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among
brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the
furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
He who rejoices at calamity will not go
unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8 A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who conceals a transgression seeks
love,
But he who repeats a matter separates
intimate friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who
has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent
against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of
her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting
out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks
out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who
condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to
the LORD.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool
to buy wisdom,
When he has no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking in sense pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence
of his neighbor.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
He who raises his door seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked mind finds no
good,
And he who is perverted in his language
falls into evil.
21 He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe from
the bosom
To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who
has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of
the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of
understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is
considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered
prudent.